Sponsorship boost for SA Rugby

Cape Town – Cellular giant Vodacom on Thursday extended its term as the title sponsor of the Super Rugby competition and associate sponsorship of the Springbok team for a further five years, which will take its association with rugby in South Africa to 26 years.

Vodacom joined the SA Rugby sponsorship family a year after launching in South Africa as a sponsor to the 1995 Rugby World Cup. The following year Vodacom extended their partnership with South African Rugby to include the-then Super 12.

They are one of a number of sponsors who have either renewed or have signed new deals with SARU in the past two weeks. They include: Tsogo Sun, Bidvest Car Rental, OUTsurance, Energade and Steinhoff.

“We are delighted that Vodacom have renewed their sponsorships with us for a further five years,” said SARU CEO Jurie Roux.

“We have worked well together for more than two decades and we have no doubt that our partnership will grow even stronger in the next five years.

“We have travelled a long and exciting journey with Vodacom as the Super Rugby competition transformed from the Super 12 to Super 14 and then the 15-team Super Rugby competition, and the tournament will take another exciting turn next season with the introduction of the Southern Kings, Japan’s Sunwolves and the Jaguares from Argentina.

“Their new deal as an associate sponsor of the Springboks will also be exciting as it allows them to have an increased brand presence on Test match days.”

Vodacom Chief Officer: Consumer Unit, Godfrey Motsa, was equally thrilled about renewing their sponsorships, and said given the established partnership with SARU and the Springboks, it made sense to sign for another five years.

“One of the keys to a successful business is loyalty, and given our long association with the Super Rugby competition and the Springbok brand, it was an easy decision to renew the sponsorships for another five years,” said Motsa.

“The Vodacom Super Rugby competition is one of the toughest and most popular tournaments in world rugby, it is a privilege to be associated with it. We have the same loyalty toward the Springboks, because our passion for rugby aside, they have established themselves as one of the top teams in the world and it remains one of the most well-known brands in the world.

“We are looking forward to another mutually-beneficial partnership with SARU in the next five years.”